In his book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell introduces the concept of thin-slicing, which pertains to the ability to make swift decisions based on minimal information. He contends that while thin-slicing can effectively reach accurate conclusions, it is also susceptible to biases and stereotypes. The way you approach an interview is essential. Once the interviewer, along with…
Does It Really Matter? The recruitment of school leaders is one of the most significant responsibilities for any educational organisation. The process is more than filling a vacancy; it’s about shaping the future of the school and its community. But does the composition of the recruitment panel—the group tasked with selecting the right leader—really make…
According to the ATWD National Trends: Teacher Workforce publication, which provides insight into emerging national trends in the teacher workforce, men are overrepresented among school leaders, presenting a notable disparity in gender representation. In 2022, women comprised 76% of registered teachers, yet only 71% of senior leaders. From 2020 to 2022, the proportion of women…
The Australian Teacher Workforce Data (ATWD) provides insights into the median hours worked by senior and middle leaders. In 2022, these senior leaders worked 58 hours a week, or 153% of contracted hours. Meanwhile, middle leaders’ median hours worked were 52 or 137% of contracted hours. Despite a slight reduction in the median hours worked…
Culture, Well-being and Leadership are all connected! Peter Drucker rightfully says “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” The Be You National Mental Health in Education Survey 2024 reviews the educational wellbeing landscape and the impact of leadership and culture. Three key takeaways are below: Mentally healthy workplaces: Cultivating a mentally healthy workplace starts from the top,…
Recruiters review numerous resumes for prospective and current educational leaders in our schools, and nowadays, these applications are “rolling” throughout the year. Internationally, particularly in North America, it is now not uncommon to have executive leadership positions advertised up to 1.5 years in advance. I will discuss this trend in my next article. Some resumes…
“It’s not just about finding a leader; it’s about preparing the school or organisation to support and empower them for long-term impact.” Leadership transitions are rarely straightforward. As we explored in a previous article, appointing the right leader is only one part of the equation. Through the transition process, deeper insights often emerge, not only…
The “Education Risk Report” for 2024, published by Ideagen, outlines several critical findings for schools and systems to consider; today, I will focus on governance and leadership challenges. Unfortunately, as its title suggests, the report mainly focuses on risk and issues. While there are undoubtedly numerous positive aspects in this area for our schools, this…
Leadership transitions in schools can be challenging and, at times, uncomfortable to address, but they are essential discussions for ensuring long-term success. In some instances, a leader or even an entire leadership team may leave a school suddenly, creating a disruption that is rarely straightforward. It might be easy to assume the leader is the…
After navigating past the impressive imagery of smiling children flying across every school’s website nowadays, under the “About” tab, you will find links to either “Governance”, “School Governance”, or “Leadership and Governance”. From here, we are directed to a variety of terms like “College Board”, “Council of Governors”, “College Advisory Council”, “School Council”, “Board of…